The Challenge Factory discussion
♦SS Archives♦
>
R13: SS Team 6 - Watch Your Six
message 301:
by
Wolf (Alpha)
(new)
Feb 26, 2022 07:25AM
I’m so sorry everyone. I was involved in a crash last night and i completely forgot to post.
reply
|
flag
And Vicki - I (and I know the whole team) know you and family were sick. We're all hoping you are ok!And Wolf - hope life gets less stressful for you!
Oh my goodness Wolf - you've had thing after thing! You need some peaceful weeks!
Book - Always, in DecemberAuthor - Emily Stone
Date Completed - 2/25/22
Spot - 39
How it fits -
Alternative (Y/N) - Y
Player - Vicki
Bonus - N
Rating: 4 stars
I really enjoyed this book a lot. Unlike some books, it didn't honestly grab me from the first page but was a bit of a slow build for me; however, I love an emotional read and this book definitely gave me that so I am glad I didn't let the beginning determine whether I finished it or not. This is one of those books that makes one think of any painful Christmas times, especially if it's been an every year event such as a loved one dying at that time of year and it makes things bitter sweet.
Hey, team, I am a bit late and so sorry once again! I'll hopefully be caught up soon and stay there!
I can message Vicki, she messaged me earlier this week about something else.
I think Michelle was able to - so that's good! Looks like we sit out this week but let's try to roll as soon as possible this coming week - (I think that would be Thursday March 3 @ midnight). Then hopefully we can all get our reviews in by the following Thursday midnight and just use Friday for review emergencies. Fingers crossed for high future rolls!
I posted my book. Am I missing something?
Vicki wrote: "I posted my book. Am I missing something?"Oh sorry I think Goodreads wasn't updating my threads when I messaged you Vicki, disregard me
Nope - it's just too late for this week (the final deadline for weekly reviews is Fridays at midnight). So we will sit out this week and resume next Thursday midnight with our next roll.
I like what you said in your review btw. Life experiences can really bring a lot of added emotion to a book!
No worries Vicki - we will come back strong next week!
I readjusted our designated roller schedule since we have lost a person. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Thanks, Michelle. When should I roll for week 7?
Vicki wrote: "Thanks, Michelle. When should I roll for week 7?"Friday 12:00 am cst. 1 am if you are on the est.
Week 7 RollNumber Rolled: 11
Previous Spot: 39
New Spot: 50
Series # 5
Standalone
Alternate Task: MC has at least one child
OH! But I finally am on #50 of the In Death series? I'll have to think about that... I'll confirm late today which one I'll go with.
I will probably go with a Standalone... but it DOES have the number 5 in it hahaha
I was going to look for #4 books last night but I was too tired. And now I'm glad I didn't - although looking at books is always fun :)
I'm going to read
, which is a stand alone. I'm kind of in the mood for it. Unless....I change my mind. So many good books are out there!
LaurLa wrote: "OH! But I finally am on #50 of the In Death series? I'll have to think about that... I'll confirm late today which one I'll go with."I only just started this series late last year. I have # 6 on CD waiting for me.
Brittany wrote: "I will probably go with a Standalone... but it DOES have the number 5 in it hahaha"Too bad we can't get extra points for that..lol
I'm thinking I may read
I only have it for another 8 days on overdrive. It took over 3 months to get.
That seems like the perfect reduce reading stress choice.
Actually....its looking like I may read
It will take care of another challenge.
Michelle yeah that would be cool if it could haha
I think I'll read
(5th in series) since I just finished book #4 for another challenge and thankfully I had it planned for that challenge too. Finally something that works together! lol
It's always so satisfying when a book works for more than one challenge! Dresden is one of those series that for me got better as it went on.
Yes, and it doesn't happen too often without planning it, so I'm a happy reader today! lol
I love Harry Dresden. Good Choice!
I started a book last night for another challenge and forgot about the book for this challenge. So many books this week that need to be read. I need to put that book on hold and start the one for here tonight at work.
I've had those crazy book weeks as well! All the deadlines!
Completion week 7Book - The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
Author - Hallie Rubenhold
Date Completed - 3/7/22
Spot -50: Standalone
How it fits - Standalone
Alternative (Y/N) - N
Player - Brittany
Review
A lot of fascinating historical data about the victims of Jack the Ripper: historian Hallie Rubenhold put a ton of time into research and material collection.
If you are at all Ripper-obsessed, I highly recommend getting to know the stories of the women and how they ended up in dire positions that led to their deaths.
**There was speculation on the identity of Jack the Ripper.
My only complaint is that the book did get a bit slow towards the end.
Overall, well worth the read. Solid 4 stars.
Completion week 7Book - The Secrets of Latimer House
Author - The Secrets of Latimer House
Date Completed - 3/7/22
Spot -50:
How it fits - Standalone
Alternative (Y/N) - N
Player - Suzanne
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review
This was about three women assigned to work at Latimer House during World War 2. Evelyn is a high-society Englishwoman and an officer, who speaks fluent German and is used to question German POWs. Prior to the war, she was engaged to a German, and her brother is a POW in Germany, so she has a lot of worries.
Judith is a Jew who escaped from Germany at the beginning of the War. She has lost much, and is bitter towards the Germans and grieving for her past life.
Betty grew up in a cottage in a small village. She's beautiful, and bubbly, but worries about her mother and sister.
The three women are competent, patriotic, and very real. I loved watching their friendship grow. And it was interesting seeing that facet of the war effort. I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy historical fiction about World War 2 - this gives a different view than what I've typically read.
Completion Post - Week 7
Book - The Overnight Guest
Author - Heather Gudenkauf
Date Completed - 3/8/22
Spot - 50
How it fits - Standalone # 0
Alternative (Y/N) - N
Player - Michelle
Bonus (Y/N) - Y - Fits Alternative task as Wylie only has 1 child.
Review - This may be the best book of 2022 for me. I've always loved the author's work, but she hit it out out of the ball park with this one.
20 years ago Josie and Becky were best friends living in a small farming town in Iowa. At 12 and 13 years old they were both on the cusp of teenage hood. Becky was staying the night with Josie and her family and all of them were headed to the Iowa state Fair the next day, Only no one mad it to the state fair the next day because Josie's parents were murdered and her brother and her best friend turned up missing. although shot in the arm, Josie survived by hiding out in the cornfield until morning. Thus begins the story of what happened that night and where did her brother and best friend go.
Fast Forward 20 years Wylie Lark a true crime writer, divorced with one child, is living in an old Iowan Farmhouse working on her latest novel about the crime. She is currently estranged from her ex-husband and teenage son. Wylie thinks that living away from the two and working on her book in solitude is what everyone needs. That is until a huge snowstorm hits Iowa knocking out all communications and Wylie discovers a small child lying unconscious outside her house almost frozen in the snow. This is when everything is unraveled and what happened 20 years is solved.
This is a pretty shocking book as it's story is laid out in alternating time lines. What these two girls go through when they are younger is unimaginable, scary, and very very believable. A couple of times as I was listening to this on my way home from work at night I was a bit scared out of my mind because I too live in an area that is identical to the one that this book takes place in. No one thinks that there is anything to New York except for a huge city and skyscrapers, but most of New York state is an exact replica of a tiny Iowa farm town. There have also been some tragedy's that have occurred that were similar to the story in this book.
I don't want to give to much away since this is a fairly new book and I don't want to spoil it for others, but it's worth a read.
TEAM 6 WATCH YOUR SIXWEEK 7 COMPLETION POSTS
SPACE 50
PLAYER BRITTANY
Book - The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
Author - Hallie Rubenhold
Date Completed - 3/7/22
Spot -50: Standalone
How it fits - Standalone
Alternative (Y/N) - N
Player - Brittany
Review
A lot of fascinating historical data about the victims of Jack the Ripper: historian Hallie Rubenhold put a ton of time into research and material collection.
If you are at all Ripper-obsessed, I highly recommend getting to know the stories of the women and how they ended up in dire positions that led to their deaths.
**There was speculation on the identity of Jack the Ripper.
My only complaint is that the book did get a bit slow towards the end.
Overall, well worth the read. Solid 4 stars
PLAYER SUZANNE
Book - The Secrets of Latimer House
Author - Jules Wake
Date Completed - 3/7/22
Spot -50:
How it fits - Standalone
Alternative (Y/N) - N
Player - Suzanne
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review
This was about three women assigned to work at Latimer House during World War 2. Evelyn is a high-society Englishwoman and an officer, who speaks fluent German and is used to question German POWs. Prior to the war, she was engaged to a German, and her brother is a POW in Germany, so she has a lot of worries.
Judith is a Jew who escaped from Germany at the beginning of the War. She has lost much, and is bitter towards the Germans and grieving for her past life.
Betty grew up in a cottage in a small village. She's beautiful, and bubbly, but worries about her mother and sister.
The three women are competent, patriotic, and very real. I loved watching their friendship grow. And it was interesting seeing that facet of the war effort. I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy historical fiction about World War 2 - this gives a different view than what I've typically read
PLAYER MICHELLE
Book - The Overnight Guest
Author - Heather Gudenkauf
Date Completed - 3/8/22
Spot - 50
How it fits - Standalone # 0
Alternative (Y/N) - N
Player - Michelle
Bonus (Y/N) - Y - Fits Alternative task as Wylie only has 1 child.
Review - This may be the best book of 2022 for me. I've always loved the author's work, but she hit it out out of the ball park with this one.
20 years ago Josie and Becky were best friends living in a small farming town in Iowa. At 12 and 13 years old they were both on the cusp of teenage hood. Becky was staying the night with Josie and her family and all of them were headed to the Iowa state Fair the next day, Only no one mad it to the state fair the next day because Josie's parents were murdered and her brother and her best friend turned up missing. although shot in the arm, Josie survived by hiding out in the cornfield until morning. Thus begins the story of what happened that night and where did her brother and best friend go.
Fast Forward 20 years Wylie Lark a true crime writer, divorced with one child, is living in an old Iowan Farmhouse working on her latest novel about the crime. She is currently estranged from her ex-husband and teenage son. Wylie thinks that living away from the two and working on her book in solitude is what everyone needs. That is until a huge snowstorm hits Iowa knocking out all communications and Wylie discovers a small child lying unconscious outside her house almost frozen in the snow. This is when everything is unraveled and what happened 20 years is solved.
This is a pretty shocking book as it's story is laid out in alternating time lines. What these two girls go through when they are younger is unimaginable, scary, and very very believable. A couple of times as I was listening to this on my way home from work at night I was a bit scared out of my mind because I too live in an area that is identical to the one that this book takes place in. No one thinks that there is anything to New York except for a huge city and skyscrapers, but most of New York state is an exact replica of a tiny Iowa farm town. There have also been some tragedy's that have occurred that were similar to the story in this book.
I don't want to give to much away since this is a fairly new book and I don't want to spoil it for others, but it's worth a read.
PLAYER LAURLA
Book - Golden in Death
Author - J.D. Robb
How it fits: #50 In Death
Date Read: 03.10 ★★★★
Review:
So 50 books in and I can't decide if we've come so far with Eve or not far enough! I remember when I started this series, I think it was in the 40s somewhere. And I remember thinking, wow, I wonder what's going on in Eve and Roarke's life that far down the line. Except, it's only like 2 or 3 years down the line from the beginning of the series! So while Eve has grown and developed so much, it wasn't maybe as much as I thought she would after 50 books. That's not true - her emotional development has been rock solid and steadily forward but what hasn't really changed is her life circumstances and environment. This book, the last couple, have started to show her finally being comfortable with where she is in her life outside of her job, so of course, now she needs a challenge (in my oh so humble opinion)! I would like to see more from Eve, more involved in the philanthropy efforts with Roarke, etc.
None of that negates that I really enjoyed this installment. It was back to more procedural than mystery, and I love seeing Eve work through the puzzles of making her cases! I'm on to the next!
PLAYER VICKI
Book - Death Masks
Author - Jim Butcher
Date Completed - 3/10/22
Spot - 50
How it fits - #5 in Series
Alternative (Y/N) - N
Player - Vicki
Bonus (Y/N) - N
Review - The Dresden Files series is one of my favorite fantasy series. I get lost in the world of Harry and all the vampires and troubles that go along with it. This one was a bit different as Harry finds himself in TV land on the Larry Fowler show, not someplace I would envision a wizard being. But two characters from the other world show up for the wrong reasons and throws things a bit helter skelter. I am not generally a fantasy fan, but the Dresden Files series has definitely got me hooked
Sorry I got lost in challenge land. Didn't really forget this one just got backed up. I'm reading Golden in Death and should be finished by tomorrow night!
Michelle that book sounds fantastic. I need to read it
LaurLa wrote: "Sorry I got lost in challenge land. Didn't really forget this one just got backed up. I'm reading Golden in Death and should be finished by tomorrow night!"I get lost there often..lol
For some strange reason I am caught up with all my challenges and now I just have to wait until Friday before I get new tasks.
Suzanne wrote: "Michelle that book sounds fantastic. I need to read it"OMG Yes! It was awesome. I listened on audio and it was fantastic. Heather is a Queen!
I will roll first thing in the morning, assuming all the reviews are in. Or tonight if they are all in before I go to bed (then I'll stay up and roll)
Completion Post ~ Week 7
Book - Death Masks
Author - Jim Butcher
Date Completed - 3/10/22
Spot - 50
How it fits - #5 in Series
Alternative (Y/N) - N
Player - Vicki
Bonus (Y/N) - N
Review - The Dresden Files series is one of my favorite fantasy series. I get lost in the world of Harry and all the vampires and troubles that go along with it. This one was a bit different as Harry finds himself in TV land on the Larry Fowler show, not someplace I would envision a wizard being. But two characters from the other world show up for the wrong reasons and throws things a bit helter skelter. I am not generally a fantasy fan, but the Dresden Files series has definitely got me hooked.
Oh I remember this one from your review! Glad you enjoyed it!
Completion Post ➺ Week 7Spot: 50
Book: Golden in Death
How it fits: #50 In Death
Date Read: 03.10 ★★★★
Review:
So 50 books in and I can't decide if we've come so far with Eve or not far enough! I remember when I started this series, I think it was in the 40s somewhere. And I remember thinking, wow, I wonder what's going on in Eve and Roarke's life that far down the line. Except, it's only like 2 or 3 years down the line from the beginning of the series! So while Eve has grown and developed so much, it wasn't maybe as much as I thought she would after 50 books. That's not true - her emotional development has been rock solid and steadily forward but what hasn't really changed is her life circumstances and environment. This book, the last couple, have started to show her finally being comfortable with where she is in her life outside of her job, so of course, now she needs a challenge (in my oh so humble opinion)! I would like to see more from Eve, more involved in the philanthropy efforts with Roarke, etc.
None of that negates that I really enjoyed this installment. It was back to more procedural than mystery, and I love seeing Eve work through the puzzles of making her cases! I'm on to the next!
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
9 Bodies Rolling (other topics)Poor Little Bitch Girl (other topics)
Poor Little Bitch Girl (other topics)
9 Bodies Rolling (other topics)
Poor Little Bitch Girl (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Stephanie Bond (other topics)Jackie Collins (other topics)
Jackie Collins (other topics)
Margaret Mizushima (other topics)
Jeaniene Frost (other topics)
More...
